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Fjordbath:
Project by Karianne Eriksen
  Årdal lies in the inner part
of Sognefjorden. It consist
of two places: Øvre Årdal
and Årdalstangen.
Sognefjorden ends at
Årdalstangen.
 
  The sorrounding landscape of Årdal is spactacular. Steep mountains and water (Årdalsvannet and Sognefjorden) enclosures Årdal.The steep
mountains with it`s river and waterfalls made it possible to built industry in this far-off place. Årdal became an industrial place during the 1940`s producing aliminium. The industry is located both in Øvre Årdal and at Årdalstangen. The industry at Årdalstangen lies by the shore because of the need to transport goods on the fjord (ships).
 

 

THE WATER AS A CONDITION

The closeness to river, water and fjord was a conditon for
settlement in earlier times.The water gives essential
conditions for life and places, and settlements arised
by mouths of rivers, by water and along fjords.

Before 1940 the seaway was a central vain for Årdal and
the sorrounding communities. Therefore became the
merchants the main archerie of communication in
Sogn og Fjordane.

THE SYSTEM OF ROADS EMERGE

From the 1920`s Årdal developed a road systems and the
road connection between Øvre Årdal and Tangen came in
1942. In the 50`s 60`s and further into the 70`s came a
more complex network of roads.

LOSS OF CONTACT WITH THE FJORD

After the road between Årdal and Fodnes came, there is
no longer a need to transport people by boat. The ferry
terminal and the quay is no longer a meeting place.
The fjord is only used as a transport-archery by the
industry (Hydro).

HOW TO RELATE TO THE FJORD TODAY?

BY BATHING
(Bathing in “natural water”)
People living in Årdal bathe in the fjord in Seimsdalen and
in Naddvik. Otherwise people bathe in “natural water” in
Fardalselvi in Øvre årdal.

(Bathing in swimming-pools)
There are an indoor swimming-pool in Øvre Årdal.
In addition there are heated outdoor swimming-pools both
in Øvre Årdal and at Årdalstangen.
  ANALYSES OF ÅRDALSTANGEN
 
  building structure:
industry		 building structure:
service and administration		 continue the public space:
the allmenning
 
  activiting the fjordline activating the fjordline and continuing
the allmenning 		the site
  The industry at Årdalstangen
occupies a lot of space,
especially of the fjordline.
On the contrary the public space
with service and administration
occupies only a smaller part of
the fjordline.
The public space could better
relate to the fjord and grasp
more space of the fjordline by
continuing the allmenning (torg)
to the pier and into the fjord. 		 
    the site seen from north east  
  ANALYSES OF EXISTING QUALITIES AND ADDING A NEW LAYER
 
  Existing qualities at Årdalstangen Aim: making better connections between
existing qualities		 Adding a new layer: fjordbathing to make
better connections between existing qualities,
especially to the fjord
 
 
  FJORDSWIMMERS
The fjordswimmers are a group of people located in Leikanger. Their main goal is to attract people who lives along the Sognefjord to use the
fjord and to front swimming and other activities attached to the fjord. They also want to use and encourage people to use the fjord in an
environmental way. The fjordswimmers swim in the fjord all year round. They have two seasons: a summer season and a winter season.
The fjord is very cold during mid winter so they don`t swim long distances, but they have a so-called “Advent dip” every Sunday during Advent.
Since 2005 the fjordswimmers have arranged an annual Swim Festival. The festival takes place in Leikanger, Borlaug, Feios and Balestrand
during August. They have different challanges: “Sognefjord Challenge”; swimming across the Sognefjord from Borlaug to Leikanger
(3,7 kilometers), “Mini Challenge; swimming across Esefjorden (in Balestrand, 400 meters), ”Fjordstafetten” (in Balestrand, swimming 4 x 50
meters) and “Kajakk Challenge”; kajaking from Leikanger to Feios (6 kilometers).
The fjordswimmers is a relatively new organization and february 2007 the Sogn Fjordswim Club was established. The worlds first fjordswim club!
The fjordswimmers want more people who live along the Sognefjord to use it by swimmig ang kajaking. The fjordswim community wants to
expand to other places along the Sognefjord.
  CONSEPT
 
  PROPOSAL
 
 

THE FJORDBATH

The fjordbath consists of 3 saunas, a heated
swimming-pool, pier, ramp and a fjordstair.
The saunas are differentiated to make
different experiences. Different size, different
placement and different themes: “common”,
“scenery” and “floating” The commonn sauna
is made for 18 people and is unisex. It is
close to the fjordstair where you can take a
quick refrehing dip and it is also close to the
swimming-pool. The “scenery sauna” is for
male or female at different times. The “floating
sauna” can be reached by swimming or
kajaking. It can be placed in different
distances from the shore. The floating sauna
is ment to be a stopping point for the
fjordswimmers when they exercise and it can
be anchored in different places making
different swimming routes. It is also making
a special experience for all who wants to try it.